Chapter 9: Fourth Raikage, Stop Holding Back! Let’s Get Serious!

[You have collected 100 points of Fire Release talent.]

[You have collected 100 points of Fire Release talent.]

[You have collected 80 points of Water Release talent.]

[You have collected 100 Chakra points.]

[You have collected 200 Chakra points.]

…

[You have collected Jutsu: Fire Style: Giant Flame Bomb.]

[You have collected 1,000 points of Giant Flame Bomb skill experience.]

[Your Giant Flame Bomb has leveled up: Level 2 (0/1000).]

[You have collected 200 points of Water Formation Wall skill experience.]

[You have collected 100 points of Fire Release talent.]

[You have collected 50 points of Water Release talent.]

In an instant, over a dozen golden orbs flew his way.

As expected of a Kage-level battle!

Kazuya, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but smile as he watched the ongoing fight.

The quality of these drops was incredible! In just a few moments, he had collected over 500 points of Chakra, along with a new Fire Style jutsu. It was a major haul.

Meanwhile, the clash between the Giant Flame Bomb and the scorching steam triggered a chain reaction, setting off the explosive tags hidden by the enemy. The battlefield erupted with blasts, one after another.

"Watch out!"

"They're coming through!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke suddenly barked a warning as dozens of shuriken whizzed through the air toward them.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

Shinnosuke slammed his palm to the ground, and a massive earth wall rose to block the incoming barrage of shuriken. The next moment, the Anbu squads spread out, charging toward the enemy Jonin.

Twelve against nine—a clear numbers advantage!

Kazuya watched, lost in thought.

Seeing an Earth Wall without a canine motif felt a bit off.

"Byakugan?"

"So it's Ao from the Hidden Mist!"

The Hyuga Jonin, his face twisted in anger, shouted, "You made the Leaf's wanted list, and you still dare set foot in the Land of Fire? Today, I'll take your life and restore the Hyuga clan's honor!"

The Byakugan! The Gentle Fist!

The Hyuga Jonin locked onto his target—Ao of the Hidden Mist, the ninja who had once stolen a Byakugan on the battlefield.

Fury burned in his eyes. He was determined to redeem the Hyuga clan's reputation today.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The two sides clashed, and the dense forest filled with shadows moving at high speed.

Fast! So fast!

Both the Leaf's Anbu and the elite Jonin from the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist were skilled fighters. As they engaged, the battle quickly became a heated melee.

And so, Jiraiya's strategy was working as intended.

By breaking up the enemy's formation, he forced them into one-on-one duels, preventing the Kage-level opponent from easily wiping out the Anbu squads.

Just as the gap between Chunin and Jonin was vast, so too was the difference between Jonin and Kage-level fighters.

For instance, Jiraiya himself was confident he could take out an entire squad of Jonin with minimal effort.

The enemy's Kage-level fighter likely held similar confidence.

Sure enough, as Jiraiya caught sight of the opposing Kage, he realized his assumption was right.

"A…"

"So, it's you!"

Jiraiya's expression grew stern as he faced the imposing figure before him.

Indeed, the man in front of him—muscular, dark-skinned, and radiating a powerful aura—was none other than the Fourth Raikage, A, of the Hidden Cloud.

The Raikage himself had come. It seemed the Hidden Cloud was all-in on this mission.

"Jiraiya of the Sannin…"

"The Toad Sage himself!"

The Fourth Raikage's deep voice rumbled like thunder. "Of all the times to encounter you, I had to draw the short straw this time!"

Indeed, unlucky.

The Fourth Raikage's true objective was the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire. This was supposed to be a covert operation, but now they had been forced into open conflict with Jiraiya.

Their cover was blown, and their advantage was lost.

Damn it! How did they discover us? This plan was supposed to be foolproof!

Frustration flared in the Raikage's mind.

"Raikage!" Jiraiya's tone was grave. "As the leader of the Hidden Cloud, you dare to invade the Land of Fire on the brink of peace? You will pay for this."

"Pay? Ha!" The Fourth Raikage let out a dismissive laugh. "Even if Minato Namikaze were standing here, he wouldn't be able to make me pay. And you think you can?"

A flicker of anger crossed Jiraiya's face.

In recent years, Minato's name had become a sore spot for him—a wound that never fully healed.

"Lightning Release Armor!"

The Fourth Raikage's Chakra condensed into crackling lightning, forming an armor of pure energy around his body. This Lightning Release Armor drastically boosted both his speed and defense.

The Third Raikage had once used this very technique to fight against tens of thousands of enemy ninja, holding his ground without defeat.

Clearly, even against a legendary figure like Jiraiya, the Fourth Raikage, A, wasn't taking any chances.

A battle between two Kage-level fighters—rare even during the Great Ninja War!

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"

Jiraiya swiftly formed hand seals from his elevated position, launching an explosive stream of flames that coalesced into a massive dragon, roaring as it charged toward the Fourth Raikage.

Roar!

The Dragon Flame Bomb wasn't just fire—it was infused with high-density Chakra, making it devastatingly powerful.

"Hah!"

"Lariat!!"

The Fourth Raikage, engulfed by the dragon's flames, remained unfazed. He roared and drove his elbow into the fire dragon's head.

"Break apart!"

With a surge of Chakra, the Fourth Raikage's strike shattered the blazing dragon, dispersing its flames.

Boom!

The impact reverberated through the forest as the fire burst apart. Almost simultaneously—

Swish!

The Fourth Raikage became a blue blur, rocketing straight toward Jiraiya with incredible speed.

"Jiraiya the Toad Sage!"

"Take this—Lightning Release…"

"Lightning Straight Lariat!"

The Fourth Raikage's voice thundered as he closed the distance with a deafening boom, his speed creating shockwaves in the air.

So fast! Jiraiya's eyes widened, though his hands moved just as quickly. He clapped them together, activating a defensive technique: "Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"

Instantly, his silvery hair hardened into a spiked shield, wrapping tightly around his body.

"Lightning Straight Lariat!"

The Fourth Raikage, undeterred, crashed into Jiraiya's defense head-on.

Bam!

The collision of two Kage-level warriors sent a shockwave through the air.

"Wild Lion's Mane Jutsu!"

Jiraiya pushed back, channeling his Chakra into his defensive hair, which morphed into the shape of a lion and lashed out at the Raikage, attempting to ensnare him.

Two unstoppable forces clashed, neither giving an inch.

It was pure brute strength versus sheer resilience.

"Good!"

"Put some more power into it!"

"Raikage, is that arm of yours too weak, or did you skip breakfast!?"

"Hit harder!"

"Focus on Jiraiya's face and really go for it!"

"If you're gonna do it, hit him square in the jaw!"

"Don't wimp out now—push him into using Sage Mode!"

Behind his mask, Kazuya's face lit up with exhilaration.

Yes! Keep fighting!

Nobody's walking away today until I've collected all the loot!